Chapter 7
The Path of Shadows
Anya emerges from the hidden passage into a forested ravine, guided by the pebbles toward Kristiania. She finds a sheltered hollow and reads the scroll from Queen Elara, learning that the true heir must pass through the Valley of Echoes. Judge Thorne's pursuit forces her to move quickly. She reaches a fork in the path, where the pebbles split into two directions, creating a choice. The chapter ends with Anya deciding to trust the warmth of one stone, stepping onto a narrow bridge over a chasm, hearing Thorne's voice close behind.
I emerged from the passage into a world of grey light and damp air. The hidden door sealed behind me with a soft grinding sound, and I stood blinking in the dim glow of an overcast sky. The path ahead wound through a forest of twisted pines, their branches heavy with moss. The air smelled of earth and rain, and somewhere a bird called out—a single, clear note that seemed to echo through the silence.
I clutched the brooch in one hand and the pebbles in the other. They were warm, pulsing gently, and they pointed eastward. I began to walk.
My legs ached from the climb, and my hands were raw from crawling through the passage. But I could not stop. Above me, I imagined I heard Judge Thorne's voice again, though it might have been the wind. He was close, too close. The memory in the cavern had shown me his ancestor's betrayal, and now Thorne was determined to silence me before I reached Kristiania.
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